The progressive community needs to have a plan for the next eighteen months (otherwise known as three or four budget cycles). I believe there is consensus for persuing two parallel tracks toward November 2010, in hopes that at least one succeeds:
1. Gain control of the state government. We need to win the governor’s mansion and at least two-thirds in each house. I say at least because, especially in the Assembly, some of those victories will come from rather reddish seats, and we need to have votes to spare for when one or two have to vote their district.
2. Change the system in California. Either through a series of Constitutional amendments or a full-blown convention, we need to alter the rules so that a small minority cannot hold the state hostage time after time.
I also believe we need to come up with a plan for “in the meantime”, that acknowledges we must work under the present rules and with the present composition of the Legislature.
Under Option One, we need to review the current candidates in the field, and recruit new ones if necessary. Will the two current candidates for governor fight to the last ditch for progressive values, or will they cave to pressure? Do we need to recruit a new and better Democrat? Same thing in each Senate and Assembly race. Is the current incumbent and/or leading candidate a solid vote for progressive values? Especially for the incumbents, we can ask which bills they supported, and why. If they’re not strong enough, go find and fund another option. We need to do this immediately.
Once we have our candidates, we need to make it a full-bore effort to get them elected. No skipping off to Arizona or Illinois or wherever for their Senate race, no distractions of any kind. In fact, we need to put out the message: We will not support any “progressive” ballot measures not focused on structural reform. The fight to reclaim our state is too big & too important to focus on anything else.
Along those lines, we also need to make it clear to all that electing Brown/Newsom/Kuehl or whomever is irrelevant without control of the legislature, and we need to put in as much energy on the local Assembly & Senate race as the top of the ticket. Now is not the time for a replay of “Obama Only”.
For Option Two, we need to pick an approach and take action, and do it now. If the conventon is the choice, let’s hit the streets with petitions to make it a reality. If piecemeal reform of the present rag is the approach, let’s hit the streets. I’m not sure if we’re in position to have measures on the ballot by next June, but perhaps November is still open.
We need to achieve consensus on our goals for change. Do we want simple majority on tax & budget votes, or do we prefer 55% or 60%? Do we want to lower the threshold for both, or just one? Do we want to repeal Prop 13, or modify the terms, or create a “split roll” system? Do we want a two year budget cycle? Do we seek modification or repeal of term limits? Do we want a unicameral legislature? Do we want to redesign the revenue system in California